Abstract
Abstract Tree damage by game browsing is one of the biggest threats to forest ecosystems at the time of climate change and large-scale forest disturbances. The aim of the paper was to determine the effect of browsing by ungulates on the diversity, abundance and species composition of natural regeneration in forest stands dominated by European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). The research was conducted on 10 permanent research plots in the Krušné hory Mts. in the Czech Republic and Germany. The density of natural regeneration was in the range of 23,300–114,100 recruits ha−1. A higher proportion of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.) was found in the regeneration compared to the mature stands. A total of 78% of recruits was damaged by browsing. The most frequently damaged tree species were sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.; 98%) and black alder (Alnus glutinosa [L.] Gaertn.; 97%), while Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst; 31%) and sessile oak (Quercus petraea [Matt.] Liebl.; 50%) were the least affected. Seventy-nine percent of European beech recruits were damaged. The game significantly reduced the height of regeneration by up to 40%, especially by terminal browsing. Browsing also negatively affected the quality and abundance of regeneration. For successful dynamics of species-rich natural forest ecosystems, it is necessary to minimize tree damage by game browsing. These main measures include the reduction of ungulate population levels and the optimization of their age structure and sex ratio, an increase in the number of overwintering enclosures and food fields for game and a change in the political approach to game management with sufficient consideration of forestry interests.
Highlights
Central European forest stands are characterized in the climax stage by occasional disturbances (Glončák 2009), which can be described by the gap disturbance regime (Korpeľ 1995; Jaworski & Kołodziej 2002)
On most PRPs (1, 2 and 5 to 10) mixed species composition of sycamore, black alder, silver birch, rowan, sessile oak and Norway spruce was recorded, always up to 10%
The highest number of species was found on PRP 8 and 9, where, in addition to European beech (84%), Norway spruce (10%), sessile oak (1%) and silver birch (5%) were present
Summary
Central European forest stands are characterized in the climax stage by occasional disturbances (Glončák 2009), which can be described by the gap disturbance regime (Korpeľ 1995; Jaworski & Kołodziej 2002). From this point of view, natural disturbances contribute positively to the dynamics of climax stands (Yamamoto 2000; Franklin et al 2002; Sage et al 2003; Manning 2007). For example, ensuring the natural occurrence of genetically native tree species (Korpeľ et al 1991; Gömöry et al 2011; Gallo et al 2020a) that can make use of the local microrelief in an outstanding
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
